Green green green Galicia- day 17

Started the day walking along the Valcarce River. Lush pastures, cows, rushing water, walking along the valley for 8-10 km. 

The weather is perfect! Sunny dry perfectly clear. 

After the meander along the river the long   beautiful climb up to O Cebreiro. The whole day was lush and green

Looking back down the valley. How gorgeous is that?!

I feel the cultural and linguistic changes as we approached and entered Galicia.

For several towns the people have been speaking Gallegos sounds like a patois of Spanish and Portuguese, I could understand a lot of the words. The culture has strong Portuguese and Celtic influences- music in bars sounds like Irish music. There are circular buildings with thatched roofs that are supposed to be like buildings in Ireland.

Tonight I sleep here in O Cebreiro- at 1300m looking out over Galicia to the west.

The view from my laundry line to Galicia and to the west.

The church and chapel here are very special for pilgrims. There will be mass tonight at 7:00. I saw the monk who I presume will say mass, hanging around and smoking a cigarette at a bar near the church. 

Statue of st James with the traditional staff and scallop shell beneath.